Accra: Obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-aged children and adolescents worldwide, placing millions at risk of serious health complications, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned.
According to Ghana News Agency, UNICEF's recent report titled 'Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children' reveals that one in 10 children aged 5 to 19, an estimated 188 million globally, are now living with obesity. The report, drawing on data from over 190 countries, indicates that while the proportion of underweight children has decreased from nearly 13 per cent in 2000 to 9.2 per cent in 2024, obesity rates have increased from 3 per cent to 9.4 per cent during the same timeframe.
The data highlights that obesity now surpasses underweight in every region of the world, except for sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Some Pacific Island nations recorded the highest prevalence globally, with 38 per cent of children in Niue, 37 per cent in Cook Islands, and 33 per cent in Nauru affected, marking a doubling of figures since 2000.
High-income countries are also facing rising challenges. In Chile, 27 per cent of children aged 5 to 19 are living with obesity, while the United States and the United Arab Emirates each reported 21 per cent. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized that the focus on malnutrition must now also include obesity, which can impact children's health and development. Ultra-processed foods are increasingly replacing essential nutrients at a time when proper nutrition is crucial for children's growth, cognitive development, and mental health.
The report warns that unhealthy food environments dominated by ultra-processed foods high in sugar, refined starch, salt, and unhealthy fats are exacerbating the crisis. Marketing by the food and beverage industry, particularly through digital platforms, has further entrenched unhealthy eating habits among children and adolescents. A global poll of 64,000 young people from over 170 countries conducted through UNICEF's U-Report found that 75 per cent had seen advertisements for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast foods within a week, with 60 per cent admitting the ads influenced their desire to consume such foods.
Health experts warn that childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of insulin resistance, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers later in life. The economic impact is also expected to be significant, with global costs of overweight and obesity projected to exceed US$4 trillion annually by 2035.
Despite the alarming trends, some countries have taken decisive measures. In Mexico, where sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods account for about 40 per cent of children's daily calories, the government banned the sale of such products in public schools, improving food environments for more than 34 million children.
UNICEF is urging governments to adopt comprehensive mandatory policies, including food labeling, marketing restrictions, and nutrition-focused subsidies and taxes. The agency is also advocating for bans on junk food sales in schools, stronger social protection programs, and safeguards to prevent food industry interference in public policy. Catherine Russell stressed the need for targeted interventions to address the double burden of malnutrition, which includes both stunting and obesity. Nutritious and affordable food must be accessible to every child to support their growth and development.
UNICEF emphasized that addressing the growing obesity crisis will require coordinated action by governments, civil society, and communities to transform food environments and protect children's right to a healthy start in life.